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A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

nytimes.com

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Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#11

Post by gizmo686 »

wil421 wrote: post #5
hellodevnull wrote: post #4

As I read these techniques for fighting addiction - "solving emotional and behavioral problems, rather than having abusers forever swear off the substance", "hourlong meetings once a week at which they discuss their goals for moderate drinking, as well as tips, challenges and progress on avoiding triggers" and "motivational interviewing, a goal-oriented form of counseling" I thought it bizarre that they are considere…

>to see how ineffective AA is. Please dont speculate on recovery unless you have first hand experience. I know many people who have improved their lives from AA and other meetings of the same type. There are many people with addiction problems who do not trust doctors or religion and a place of like minded people is the only option for them (AA).

People with first hand experience are not in a good posistion to judge how effective something is.

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#12

Post by hellodevnull »

wil421 wrote: post #5
hellodevnull wrote: post #4

As I read these techniques for fighting addiction - "solving emotional and behavioral problems, rather than having abusers forever swear off the substance", "hourlong meetings once a week at which they discuss their goals for moderate drinking, as well as tips, challenges and progress on avoiding triggers" and "motivational interviewing, a goal-oriented form of counseling" I thought it bizarre that they are considere…

>to see how ineffective AA is. Please dont speculate on recovery unless you have first hand experience. I know many people who have improved their lives from AA and other meetings of the same type. There are many people with addiction problems who do not trust doctors or religion and a place of like minded people is the only option for them (AA).

Yes I'm sure you do and I too know many people who improved their lives without going to AA. We're not going to persuade anyone talking about our personal experiences and how this guy Bob we know is doing really well.

Also I'm not speculating and I do have personal experience since you ask, I didn't say you need a psychiatrist and a prescription but from years of talking to addicts and going through recovery myself I've found that setting goals and staying positive and within limits and simple things like looking at changes in a certain way is very effective compared to what seems like a New Years Resolution that you'll likely fail and beat yourself for failing to keep up. Such therapy mentioned in the article can motivate people more than AA-style regimes can and that's more important in the long run.

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#15

Post by chipgap98 »

The author misses the point of who AA is intended for. Not every person who goes through a period of overindulgent drinking is an alcoholic. Many college students in the US drink like alcoholics and, like the article says, 75% of binge drinkers cut way back when they get more responsibility. AA, in my opinion, is meant for those other 25%. AA is for the people who have a serious job, a family, or other responsibility and don't slow down.

There are people who hit rock bottom from drinking and realize they need help. For them the thought of getting back to that rock bottom point can be terrifying. Abstinence only isn't forced upon them, but rather it can be viewed as the only option.

This article also doesn't do anything to address drug addiction. I don't think moderating heroin intake is going to be a viable option for people with a heroin problem.

There is certainly a large group of people in the world who can benefit from the treatment described here, but I think the article oversteps a great deal by saying this is a more effective addiction treatment than AA.

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#16

Post by amasad »

A really new technique for fighting addiction I've been hearing about lately is Ayahuasca. It is a psychedelic brew that originates from the Amazon. I remember watching an episode of Vice (which I can seem to find) following a heroin addict through his Ayahuasca trip to get rid of his addiction and they claimed that it worked and he didn't get back to it.

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#17

Post by [deleted] »

DanBC wrote: post #10
colanderman wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. (I don't know why you're being downvoted.) I've never been in AA but I am close to someone who has. The primary benefit I see AA provide them is a group of like-minded people who will do fulfilling non-drug-related activities with them. Addiction is as much social as it is physiological. It's very difficult to quit an addiction if you continue to hang out with the same people in the same environment in which…

> (I don't know why you're being downvoted.) I didn't downvote but I have a knee-jerk reaction to want to downvote people using anecdotal evidence to support medical treatments.

[deleted]

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#18

Post by [deleted] »

chipgap98 wrote: post #15

The author misses the point of who AA is intended for. Not every person who goes through a period of overindulgent drinking is an alcoholic. Many college students in the US drink like alcoholics and, like the article says, 75% of binge drinkers cut way back when they get more responsibility. AA, in my opinion, is meant for those other 25%. AA is for the people who have a serious job, a family, or other responsibility…

[deleted]

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#19

Post by humanrebar »

gizmo686 wrote: post #11
wil421 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>to see how ineffective AA is. Please dont speculate on recovery unless you have first hand experience. I know many people who have improved their lives from AA and other meetings of the same type. There are many people with addiction problems who do not trust doctors or religion and a place of like minded people is the only option for them (AA).

People with first hand experience are not in a good posistion to judge how effective something is.

When doing scientific research, absolutely. When making a personal decision, it's foolish to ignore first-hand experience just as it's foolish to ignore advice from experts.

Re: A Different Path to Fighting Addiction

#20

Post by [deleted] »

colanderman wrote: post #9
wil421 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>to see how ineffective AA is. Please dont speculate on recovery unless you have first hand experience. I know many people who have improved their lives from AA and other meetings of the same type. There are many people with addiction problems who do not trust doctors or religion and a place of like minded people is the only option for them (AA).

Agreed. (I don't know why you're being downvoted.) I've never been in AA but I am close to someone who has. The primary benefit I see AA provide them is a group of like-minded people who will do fulfilling non-drug-related activities with them. Addiction is as much social as it is physiological. It's very difficult to quit an addiction if you continue to hang out with the same people in the same environment in which…

[deleted]
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